New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burma and Sri Lanka have agreed to step up bilateral cooperation ranging from curbing terrorism to going in for investments, trade and tourism during the second joint bilateral meeting held in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama during the second joint meeting on bilateral cooperation on Monday agreed to increase cooperation on counter terrorism and to boost bilateral investment and trade.
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said despite the elimination of the Liberation Tamil Tiger Elam (LTTE), the outfit’s network overseas continues to be active and that Sri Lanka is working to neutralise the group’s networks.
“Both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and expressed their views on continuing joint and separate actions to curb the menace which is a threat to regional peace and security and an obstacle to regional cooperation,” a statement by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said.
Nyan Win, on the other hand, reaffirmed to Sri Lanka that Burma would not allow any group or individual to use its territory for hostile acts against Sri Lanka.
Besides, the two foreign ministers during the meeting also agreed to increase bilateral trade, with Bogollagama inviting Burmese investors to explore possible business opportunities in the island state.
Nyan Win, who is on his fourth visit to Sri Lanka, is accompanied by several businessmen including those from the Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, who are eyeing business ventures.
Bogollagama said Burma and Sri Lanka are also looking into avenues of providing free visa facilities to pilgrims visiting the two countries.
“Our future discussions in Myanmar [Burma] will try to secure free visas for pilgrims visiting both countries,” Minister Bogollagama said.
Both Burma and Sri Lanka, being predominantly Buddhist countries, devotees often visit each others countries on pilgrimage and will benefit from the two governments agreement to waive visa fee.
At present a Sri Lankan citizen has to pay US $36 for a visa to Burma.
With the two countries having no direct air communication, the ministers also discussed starting a direct air route to boost tourism, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said.
Bogollagama also requested the Burmese delegation to provide a favourable solution to the currency problem by exploring the possibility of introducing Asian currency units.
Currently the official value of the Burmese Kyat is about 6 kyat to 1 USD, while in the black market 1 USD is about 1200 Kyat, leaving a huge gap between the official and black market exchange rates.
While Sri Lanka has never been an important bilateral trade partner for Burma, the ruling military junta, faced with increasing international pressure for its appalling human rights records, has been exploring diplomatic relationship with the island state.
In June, following the military victory over the LTTE, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a state visit to Burma and signed several Memoranda of Understanding on several issues including tourism, and cultural cooperation.
